Furuncle Under Arm Pictures - 4 Photos & Images

Furuncle is another word for a boil. Boils are bacterial or fungal infections of hair follicles. The infected hair follicle can be on any part of your body, not only your scalp. When the hair follicle becomes infected, the skin around it becomes inflamed. The furuncle looks like a red, raised bump on your skin and will rupture and weep fluid. Furuncles are most commonly found on the face and neck. You might also develop a boil on your thigh or buttocks.

A furuncle may begin as a benign-looking bump on your skin, similar to a pimple. However, as the infection worsens, the boil can become hard and painful. Bacteria and dead skin cells may build up under the skin, forming pus. Pressure builds, which may cause the furuncle to burst and release its fluids. The pain is usually at its worst right before a furuncle ruptures and will most likely improve after it drains. According to the Mayo Clinic, furuncles range in size from as small as a pea to as big as a golf ball. The skin around the infected hair follicle may become red, swollen, and tender. Scarring is also possible. The development of several boils in the same general area of your body is called a carbuncle. Carbuncles may cause a fever and chills. These symptoms are less common with a single boil.

Any type of bacteria or fungi can cause a furuncle. The most common bacterium is Staphylococcus aureus, hence why furuncles can also be called staph infections. Everyone has S. aureus on their skin as a normal occurrence. The bacterium causes an infection only if it enters your bloodstream through an open wound, such as a cut or a scratch. Once the bacterium is in your blood, your immune system tries to fight it and the boil is actually the result of your white blood cells working to eliminate it.

You are more likely to develop a boil if your immune system is compromised or if you have a medical condition that slows down the healing of your wounds. Diabetes and eczema, a chronic skin disorder characterized by extremely dry, itchy skin, are two examples of chronic conditions that may increase your risk of getting a staph infection. Your risk can also increase if you engage in close, personal contact with someone who already has a staph infection.